Basting Brush with Reservoir Applicator

ABSTRACT

A device for transferring viscous liquids includes a handle removably coupled to a brush head, said brush head comprising a plurality of flexible bristles and an integral reservoir which allows for dispensing of liquids directly to the bristles while the baster is in use without the need for repeated dipping or coating.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a non-provisional application based on U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/210,315 filed on Mar. 16, 2009.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention described herein is a novel improvement to a well knowncooking accessory. More particularly, it is a basting device with abrush applicator that incorporates an open dispensing reservoir(hereinafter, reservoir) to quickly and efficiently apply large volumesof marinade, sauces or the like (hereinafter, liquid or liquids) tofood.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Basting brushes have long been used during the grilling and cookingprocess to apply liquids to the surface of foods enhancing their flavor.Prior art shows numerous examples of basing brush devices comprised ofvarious materials. A traditional embodiment is a thin flat wooden handleapproximately 6″-8″ long with natural or synthetic bristles affixed toone end. A similarly arranged modern example utilizes a heat resistanthandle of plastic or metal and a heat resistant silicone brushapplicator.

Regardless of material makeup, these known devices rely only on the weakcapillary action within the brush bristles to retain liquid as it istransferred from a vessel and applied to the surface of the food. Thisoften proves tedious and messy for a cook especially when large amountsof food or food surface area requires basting. Recently somemanufacturers have added flexible grid-like inserts within siliconebrushes to help retain more liquid. This improves the function slightly,but the capacity of liquid retained by the insert is still too limitedto be substantially effective.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the invention and its advantages willbe apparent from a review of the Detailed Description in conjunctionwith the following Drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a Basting Brush with ReservoirApplicator device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the Basting Brush with ReservoirApplicator device of FIG. 1 showing the handle uncoupled from the brushapplicator.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the Basting Brush with Reservoir Applicatordevice of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of Basting Brush with ReservoirApplicator of FIG. 1 detailing the reservoir surfaces and drain holeswhile the device is in use.

FIG. 5 is a top-down sectional view of one embodiment of the reservoirdrain hole and handle void space configuration FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-5, where like numerals indicate like andcorresponding elements, the Basting Brush with Reservoir Applicator 1incorporates a handle 3 defining a longitudinal axis 4 (FIG. 3) in whichone end communicates with a brush applicator 5 (FIGS. 2, 3) having anintegral reservoir 7. Similar in size and functionality to traditionalbasting brush devices, this new approach improves functionality bycapturing and dispensing more liquid with greater efficiency. Theintegral reservoir 7 is defined a s a concave shape with an openreservoir end 9 facing up, and an opposing closed reservoir end 11 thatcommunicates with the handle 3 on one side, and a plurality ofindividual bristles 13 on the other side. The closed reservoir end 11contains drain holes 17 that orient with corresponding voids 19 (FIG. 5)in the attached lower end of the handle 3 which in turn allow liquid toslowly drain through from the reservoir 7 to the plurality of individualbristles 13 on the other side and onto the food surface 21 (FIG. 4).Flow adjustment can be achieved by rotating the brush in aperpendicularly fashion to the handle, thereby changing the orientationbetween the drain holes 13 and the voids 15 (FIGS. 4, 5) in the attachedhandle—a useful feature since liquids of varying viscosities might beused.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied onetype of pet feeder, it is not intended to be limited to the detailsshown, since it will be understood that various omissions,modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of thedevice illustrated in its operation can be made by those skilled in theart without departing in any way from the spirit of the presentinvention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

1. A baster comprising: a handle defining a longitudinal axis; and abrush applicator disposed at an end of the handle, wherein the brushapplicator comprises a plurality of individual bristles positioned onand extending from one end of the brush applicator, an integralreservoir on another end of the brush applicator comprising one openreservoir end, and one closed reservoir end, and one or more reservoirdrain holes extending through the closed reservoir end to allow fluidpassage therethrough.
 2. The baster of claim 1, wherein the handle isremovably coupled to the brush applicator having one or more void spacesproximate to the reservoir drain holes to allow fluid access to thereservoir drain holes therethrough.
 3. The baster of claim 2, whereinthe handle may be actuated along its longitudinal axis to alter thealignment between the planar surface drain holes and the void spaces. 4.The baster of claim 1, wherein the open reservoir end extends from theclosed reservoir end along the handle's longitudinal axis.
 5. The basterof claim 4, wherein the open reservoir end is defined as a concaveshape.
 6. The baster of claim 4, wherein the open reservoir includeindicators showing the relative position of the reservoir drain holesand void spaces.
 7. The baster of claim 1, wherein the handle issubstantially rigid and the brush applicator is comprised of a flexiblematerial.
 8. A baster comprising: a handle defining a longitudinal axis;a brush applicator disposed at an end of the handle; wherein the handleis removably coupled to the brush applicator having one or more voidspaces proximate to the reservoir drain holes to allow fluid access tothe reservoir drain holes therethrough; and wherein the brush applicatorcomprises a plurality of individual bristles positioned on and extendingfrom one end of the brush applicator, an integral reservoir on anotherend of the brush applicator comprising one open reservoir end, and oneclosed reservoir end, and one or more reservoir drain holes extendingthrough the closed reservoir end to allow fluid passage therethrough. 9.The baster of claim 8, wherein the handle may be actuated along itslongitudinal axis to alter the alignment between the planar surfacedrain holes and the void spaces.
 10. The baster of claim 9, wherein theopen reservoir end extends from the closed reservoir end along thehandle's longitudinal axis.
 11. The baster of claim 10, wherein the openreservoir end is defined as a concave shape.
 12. The baster of claim 10,wherein the open reservoir include indicators showing the relativeposition of the reservoir drain holes and void spaces.
 13. The baster ofclaim 8, wherein the handle is substantially rigid and the brushapplicator is comprised of a flexible material.
 14. A baster comprising:a handle defining a longitudinal axis; a brush applicator disposed at anend of the handle; wherein the handle is removably coupled to the brushapplicator having one or more void spaces proximate to the reservoirdrain holes to allow fluid access to the reservoir drain holestherethrough; wherein the brush applicator comprises a plurality ofindividual bristles positioned on and extending from one end of thebrush applicator, an integral reservoir on another end of the brushapplicator comprising one open reservoir end, and one closed reservoirend, and one or more reservoir drain holes extending through the closedreservoir end to allow fluid passage therethrough; and wherein thehandle may be actuated along its longitudinal axis to alter thealignment between the planar surface drain holes and the void spaces.15. The baster of claim 14, wherein the open reservoir end extends fromthe closed reservoir end along the handle's longitudinal axis.
 16. Thebaster of claim 15, wherein the open reservoir includes indicatorsshowing the relative position of the reservoir drain holes and voidspaces.
 17. The baster of claim 14, wherein the handle is substantiallyrigid and the brush applicator is comprised of a flexible material. 18.A baster comprising: a handle defining a longitudinal axis; a brushapplicator disposed at an end of the handle; wherein the handle isremovably coupled to the brush applicator inside the reservoi, and hasone or more void spaces proximate to the reservoir drain holes to allowfluid access to the reservoir drain holes therethrough; wherein thebrush applicator is made from a substantially flexible material andcomprises a plurality of individual bristles positioned on and extendingfrom one end of the brush applicator, an integral reservoir on anotherend of the brush applicator comprising one open reservoir end, and oneclosed reservoir end, and one or more reservoir drain holes extendingthrough the closed reservoir end to allow fluid passage therethrough;and wherein the brush applicator may be actuated along the longitudinalaxis of the handle to alter the alignment between the planar surfacedrain holes and the void spaces.